Plunkett was too ill to make a court appearance a month ago on Feb. 18 when her hearing was rescheduled to March 18.

Plunkett is represented in court by Justin Carver, a public defender.

Her husband was a retired Jefferson City police officer who worked for the department from 1989 to 2008. At the time of his death, Plunkett operated Bias Pest Control Co. from his home at 283 Major Terrace, Holts Summit.

Sandra Plunkett originally told police she was outside her home on Jan. 1 when she saw a man dressed in camouflage with a gun walking down the street. When she entered her home, she said, she found her husband on the floor, shot in the back of the head.

But authorities said she later changed her story, confessed to the killing and showed law enforcement officers a Marlin .22-caliber rifle she had discarded after shooting her husband. A shell casing was found near the body by authorities.